AIMIM secures twin wins in ward where Shiv Sena’s journey began

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has registered twin victories in Gulmandi — the ward that once served as the cradle of Shiv Sena's organisational journey in the city. For the first time since the Sena established its maiden local branch, or Shakha, here over four decades ago, two AIMIM corporators were elected from the same ward. The result signals a profound shift in the political narrative of an area long considered the bedrock of Sena's influence. Gulmandi, a historic flower market and the densely populated commercial heart of the old city, was the site of Shiv Sena's first local office, which opened on June 8, 1985. From this single branch, the party expanded its footprints across eight districts of the Marathwada region, producing leaders who reached the state legislature and Parliament. In the latest municipal elections, however, AIMIM candidates Taranum Aqil Ahmed and Noorjahan Iqbal clinched victory with 6,808 and 6,983 votes, respectively. Their wins have sparked unease among veteran Shiv Sainiks, who view the result as emblematic of the party's erosion in its once-unquestioned bastion. Notably, these seats were won without the presence of AIMIM's star campaigners, including party president Asaduddin Owaisi or state chief Imtiaz Jaleel. The victory was instead built on a hyper-local, door-to-door strategy. "We personally met over 95 per cent of the electors and requested they give us a chance. People trusted us, and the results are here," Feroz Ahmed Khan, son of winner Noorjahan Iqbal, told TOI. Aqil Ahmed, husband of winner Taranum, added that their deep local roots played a role. "Coming from a business family, we have contacts across all communities. That helped us secure support beyond just one demographic." The loss is particularly poignant for the Sena, whose formative years in the city were defined by aggressive street-level mobilisation in these very lanes. Senior functionaries recalled the first major Sena rally on Jan 17, 1986, led by then-district chief Subhash Patil. "Meetings, planning sessions, and discussions on civic issues like healthcare and corruption were a daily feature at the Gulmandi branch," recalled Avinash Kumawat, an early associate of the movement. Despite the city's history of communal volatility, the Sena's network thrived for decades under leaders like former four-time MP Chandrakant Khaire. Even in this election, the Sena presence remained visible — Khaire's nephew, Sachin Khaire, and Rishikesh Jaiswal (son of Sena MLA Pradeep Jaiswal) were both elected alongside the two AIMIM corporators. However, party old-timers argued the Sena's character changed after it tasted power in the 1990s. "Grassroots activism gradually gave way to a culture driven by authority and electoral arithmetic," said one founder member. "Internal splits and shifting alliances further weakened the organisation at the block level." AIMIM leaders attributed their success to voter consolidation and disciplined campaigning, noting that more than 6,500 Muslim votes were polled in the ward. They emphasised that the election remained focused on local issues rather than religious tension. While Gulmandi previously elected a Muslim corporator, Alaf Khan, in 1980 — five years before the Sena arrived — simultaneous election of two AIMIM representatives is unprecedented. With the AIMIM symbol now flying in the ward where the Sena first planted its flag, the result marks a historic realignment in the city's political geography.